Auditory response applicability steady state in free field in evaluating babies and children hearing aid users

Abstract

Introduction : The auditory steady-state response (ASSR) can be recorded by the utilization of many kinds of transductors as supra-auricular phones, insertion phones, bone vibrator and loudspeaker. The assessment by loudspeaker may be used on the determination of minimal answer levels in free field with or without hearing aids. Objective : to evaluate the applicability of ASSR in free field according to maximum output of the transductor and the duration of the exam. Methods: 27 children aged from 8 months to 12 years, with bilateral neurossensorial hearing impairment from moderate to profound were evaluated by means of tonal audiometry and ASSR on soundfield with and without hearing aids. Results: In the condition without hearing aids, the answers presence in audiometry and ASSR was the same for frequencies of 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz. No association was observed between the duration of the exam and age. The smallest time of duration of exam was observed with hearing impairment of profound degree, in the condition without hearing aid. Conclusions: In the condition with hearing aids, the answer presence tends towards 100% on both evaluation procedures on different frequencies. There is no association between duration of ASSR exam and age. The duration of the ASSR exam on children with moderate and severe hearing impairment is higher than with profound degree in condition without hearing aids. In the condition with hearing aids there is no association between duration of ASSR exam and hearing impairment degree.